035 03-15-2026

035 03-15-2026

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Session Summary

035 03-15-2026

The Scorned Eight spent a week of downtime in Caer Callidier, staffing and repairing Tidewatch Bastion, pursuing individual goals, and uncovering key leads — including Gunther's discovery of a third hag tower deep in the Underdark near Wrathgaunt Mote. After navigating seven days of rough seas, the party arrived at Oman and immediately clashed with a lizardfolk patrol in the bog, dispatching them and capturing one to interrogate.

Recap

034 03-01-2026

After leaving Llorgh, the party weathered a violent storm and survived an attack from a massive Aboleth before finally arriving in Caer Callidier, where they noticed the absence of slave trade activity in the port. After celebrating with their crew — including a chaotic tavern contest riding Obold’s fiendish ram, Ramses — they were summoned by Kalista, who revealed her growing influence and offered them several potential strongholds. The party chose Tidewatch Bastion as their new base of operations, hired staff and guards to maintain it, and spent the remainder of the day selling spoils, acquiring new gear, and beginning research into hags and the Underdark.

AI Summary

Tidewatch Bastion — New Staff

Kalista arranged for eight staff members to be hired for Tidewatch Bastion while the party was in Caer Callidier:

Note: Caer Callidier is approximately half a day's travel from Tidewatch Bastion.

Downtime Week — Individual Activities

Kormak spent his mornings repairing the Bastion — resetting hinges, reforging iron straps, reinforcing door frames, fixing furniture. Evenings he retreated to the basement laboratory he was carving out beneath the tower, working on a broken planar compass — once a marvel of dwarven craft, now with a needle that drifted uselessly. After days of failure, he tried incorporating the ethereal crystal recovered from the Fae spider cavern, working powdered crystal shavings into the compass housing. Still no success, but he felt close. He and Thorin spent several nights befriending the local brewers of Caer Callidier, debating grain, fermentation, and spring water in the best taverns.

Midweek, Kormak found a pigeon-keeper at the market and sent a letter to his wife, Hilda. On the final morning of the week, Hilda arrived. She had arranged for her sister to take over their bed and breakfast in Ogden and brought Kormak his cut — 350 gold — before announcing she'd be moving into the Bastion. Her assessment of the repairs: "It'll do." Her proposal: buy a cottage or two in Caer Callidier and turn a modest profit. "Good thing you married someone practical."

Thorin rose before dawn every day to train in the yard alongside Gunther and Obold. Unimpressed with the state of the grounds, he purchased timber posts, old wagon wheels, rope bundles, and discarded militia shields from Caer Callidier's markets — building out proper training targets, a sparring circle, and a setup worthy of a dwarven war camp. He also sourced old forge equipment and set up a modest smithy in the far corner of the barn — an anvil in an oak stump, a forge, racks, and repaired bellows.

After drinking sessions with local brewers turned into something resembling scholarship, he and Kormak bought barley seeds, wheat grain, fermentation barrels, and copper kettles. They instructed Tobin — loudly — on planting the barley. Several mornings, Thorin visited the Temple of Tempus, spending hours sharpening his hammer and praying for worthy battles and strong allies.

Thorin also commissioned a bolt of paralysis from a local craftsperson — 500 gold, paid upfront.

Kaneko spent the week asking quiet questions in taverns and markets about the Valentine family — wealthy vintners from just south of Neverwinter, whose wine travels the Sword Coast trade routes. In a dockside tavern, he found a bottle of Valentine vintage and confirmed it was genuine. The barkeep mentioned the entire shipment had been stolen goods, origin unknown.

Later, Kaneko overheard sailors whispering that the Valentine family had dealings with the Three — the hag sisters. He filed it away.

One night, wandering the quiet streets, he found a small herbalist shop. The elven shopkeeper saw through him immediately: "You carry something heavy. Not on your shoulders — here." The shopkeeper was a druid. Kaneko's anger rose, but the druid named it plainly: "That hatred is poison in your path. You cannot hunt the truth if your spirit is blinded by rage." He directed Kaneko to a druidic circle on Gwyneth — an ancient one — and told him he must first confront what lies within before he can confront the Valentines.

Lois spent her week divided between the party's tavern evenings and the run-down temple of Baphomet on the edge of the city. She scrubbed the floors, repaired the woodwork, retraced the labyrinthine engravings on the altar. She spoke to Baphomet frequently — not quite prayers, more like conversations. She stationed herself outside the temple doors and spoke to passersby about strength, independence, and walking one's own path through the labyrinth. By week's end, offerings had begun appearing on the altar. A congregation was forming.

She and Ofie visited a haberdashery in the merchant district. Lois wanted to improve her sewing — she had been making cloth charms shaped like Baphomet's horned labyrinth, but the stitching was rough. The shopkeeper taught her proper technique; Ofie helped with her surprisingly gentle hands. Lois produced a finer charm. That night at the altar, she placed one of the new charms on the stone — and the candle flames bent as if stirred by a breath that hadn't come from the room. The shadows on the wall briefly took the shape of curling horns.

Ofie spent her mornings wandering the wildlands around the Bastion, communing with the land in the ancient language of the wild. Near the tower, she found a family of rabbits living under a thicket, nurtured a patch of wild lettuce for them, and made a quiet arrangement — the party was moving in nearby, but they were friends. One bold rabbit thumped once in approval.

She spent part of the week practicing her giant eagle wild shape, circling the Bastion and diving into the tree line. She accompanied Lois to the haberdashery and began making small stuffed woodland creatures — foxes, rabbits, birds — her large hands working with surprising delicacy.

Near the docks one afternoon, she heard something unexpected: Firbolg music. An ancient Celtic melody from her people. She followed it to a small crowd where another Firbolg woman was singing. The moment their eyes met, the song changed. The woman — Merwin Greenbranch — bowed and said, "Princess Ofie." Behind her were three other Firbolg musicians: Talon (drummer), Perrick (harp), and Lyra (storyteller). They traded stories. Before parting, all four promised to spread word that Princess Ofie walked the world with great heroes.

Alias spent the week at the docks with the crew and Gamora, repairing and resupplying the Bitch's Scorn. He worked alongside them as a captain who'd grown into the role, but his eyes were always scanning the harbor for the Black Fang and its captain, Xanaphia.

On the third night at the Wanton Wench, she appeared — not in her usual pirate leathers, but something softer, elegant. Over the next several nights they crossed paths often. Their conversations became playful and teasing. Every time the tension began to tip toward something more, she redirected it. The game continued unresolved.

In the taverns, Alias asked about Oman — reportedly where one of the hag sisters kept a Galder Tower. Sailors confirmed it had ports, but none were safe. Lizardfolk patrols watched every cove. "You might get there, but not without someone noticing." He also asked about Captain Argram and his former ship, the Queen's Bitch — a sailor mentioned a matching ship had been spotted near Baldur's Gate.

He accompanied Gunther several times to the city library, helping him interpret older texts. Near week's end, he took the Bitch's Scorn around the coast to anchor in the cove below the Bastion. Xanaphia visited. The unresolved tension continued.

On the final night, Alias stood alone at the stern and pulled out the whisper quill. He wrote to Magnolia Duvall (Mags): "Mags — the crew and I have set up shop at Tidewatch Bastion. Headed to Oman. I hear they're in need of plundering. You in?"

Obold trained with Thorin and Gunther each morning, then spent his days quietly moving through the city, asking about followers of Iuz. He eventually arranged a meeting with Kira Swan, guildmaster of the Gloom Shadow — Caer Callidier's most powerful thieves' guild — in a cellar beneath a dockside gambling hall. "That sort of thing," she told him, "is very bad for business." The Gloom Shadow began watching certain individuals.

They found Halden — an old associate from Obold's days serving the Archbishop of Iuz. Still carrying the same cruel ambition. In a quiet alley, before Halden could react, Zydaria took his head. The body was gone before sunrise. Several others disappeared in the days that followed. The remaining Iuz influence in the city went quiet.

In the afternoons, Obold walked to the woods near the Bastion and sat with Z'Daria Nix — the sentient halberd — across his knees. Slowly, she told him her story. She had been a drow high priestess of Lolth, powerful and respected, who made one fatal mistake: she fell in love with a high-born Sylvan Elf named Elthyr Velaryon — one of the earliest followers of Baphomet, one who walked in the sun. Lolth found out. She commanded Zydaria to end it. Zydaria refused. Lolth sent assassins; Elthyr was killed. Then, as punishment, Lolth bound Zydaria's soul into a weapon through dark ritual — the halberd, a weapon meant for slaughter. "I would have preferred a saber," she said. "Something elegant." After a pause: "My affection for him would have faded. It was foolishness and passion. I regret choosing him over my goddess."

Gunther kept up his morning training sessions with Thorin and Obold. His real focus was the city library — long hours at heavy wooden tables, sometimes with Alias helping interpret older passages. He was searching for information on the Fae, the Green Court, and whether his wild magic could ever be controlled.

What Gunther discovered:

The Scorned Eight are not simply chasing pirates. They're moving against three ancient beings, each with her own stronghold: one on Oman, one unknown, and one deep beneath the world.

The Voyage to Oman

The party set sail south, taking a route that passed near Gwyneth — short and relatively safe. Before departing, they asked Hilda to source exotic pipe-weed seeds for Tobin to plant.

The crossing took seven days:

On day 7, the party finally anchored off Oman and rowed ashore in a small cove. The isle was a vast swampy bog, shrouded in fog. Movement in the bog would be at half speed for most of the party.

Battle on Oman — The Lizardfolk Patrol

The party made landfall in a foggy cove. The bog was immediate — slow, stinking, difficult terrain. Alias was disgusted; Gunther felt right at home. Kormak fashioned Alias a set of mint-scented noseplugs from a whip. Ofie shifted to giant eagle form and carried Kormak above the treeline.

Kaneko scouted ahead and spotted movement — shapes in the mist, moving in irregular circles. No discernible pattern. The party rolled initiative. The lizardfolk had nearly surrounded them.

Kaneko dropped two lizardfolk immediately. Alias attempted to defuse the situation: "Stop — you've seen what we can do. If you continue, we will kill you all. We are friends of Vutha." The lizardfolk began to lower their weapons — then a whip cracked, and a large lizardfolk pack leader bellowed at them to keep fighting.

The battle was rough. Most of the party was slowed by the bog. A cluster of three lizardfolk swarmed Lois and Alias on Lois's chariot, destroying it and dealing massive damage to Lois, dropping her and Alias back into the muck. Ofie swept in as an eagle to attack the pack leader — was hit critically on the way out, reverting to her Firbolg form mid-flight. Obold misty-stepped and cut a lizard in half. Gunther's wild magic allowed him to throw his longsword and have it return to his hand, so he just kept throwing it. Kormak, knocked flat by Ofie's thrown body, climbed out of the bog and cast Faerie Fire — foreseeing the pack leader failing the save. Thorin called down a Guiding Bolt and hammered another lizard. Alias stabbed through the chaos, killing one and frightening another. Lois blasted from the muck with Eldritch Blast. Obold split a raptor's head in half as a reaction when it attacked Ramses.

The pack leader attacked Kormak twice — both Shielded — then turned on Gunther and missed. Ofie tried twice to grapple the leader in eagle form; the second attempt got a natural 20 on the escape, slipping out easily. Obold crossbow-killed a raptor off Thorin and Alias. Kormak missed a firebolt. Kaneko tried to force a weapon drop with a maneuver — failed. Alias shot the pack leader; Lois kept blasting. Gunther brought his greatsword down on the pack leader and split him in half to the collar bone.

The party captured one of the smaller surviving lizardfolk for questioning.

Note from Tristan: Attempt to leverage the lizardfolk's situation — we know Vutha, and if not provoked, could be used as friends to free them from the bog and the hag who rules them. Approach through persuasion/deception (we can be useful allies) or intimidation (you don't want to face us again).

Log

Tristan's Notes

Callista hired us:

Ferrier - Derrick Coilrope, calm and steady, quiet respect for our group, endless collection of sea stories

Tobin Bramblefoot - understand weather and soil, cheerful, proud of harvest

Elyria Fenbrook - young human women, worked in several inns, quiet and observant, would be good at overhearing guests, loyal once trust is earned

Cook - Barron Copperpot, hearty meals, new ingredients, loud and cheerful, talkative

Butler - Aldrick Valmont - tall impeccable dressed human man, used to managing noble households, dry sense of humor

Garrick Stonehand, Master of Arms - gray hair but watchful, almost died from a spearwound, disciplined and fair, respects capable warriors, battlefield stories after a few drinks, longsword

Tomas Read, guard - see us as legendary heroes already, very eager to please, longsword

Half elf, 31 female, coolheaded and practical, most reliable guard, quiet wit, always chewing mint leaves, keeps throwing knives

What our weeks looked like:

Kormack - fixed up our new home, the Tidewatch Bastion, and began setting up the laboratory for himself. Now working on a project, an ethereal compass that was broken. Thought to use the ethereal crystal we found in the spider cavern to fix it but to no avail. Sent a message to Hilda, who arrived and shared with him his cut of earnings, she has now come to live here.

Thorin - Prepared training grounds at the bastion, creating training targets (looking like a dwarven warcamp). Set up a forge in the bastion as well! Kormack and Thorin made plans to start their own dwarven brewery, bossing Tobin around on how to plant the Barley. Mending his hammer and praying to his god Tempest.

Kaneko - Kaneko looked and listened for something as he traveled through town. Someone named Valentine, a family who owns a winery. Found wine from the Valentine's, that he learned was from a stolen shipment. Heard someone whispering about how the valentines might be working with the 3 (hags). Kenneck met a mysterious druid shopkeeper, who had a deep conversation with Kaneko about his hatred for druids and suggested he couldn't do anything about the valentines until he dealt with his hatred of druids. He said to go to a druidic circle in Gwyneth to confront his own hatred before confronting the Valentines.

Lois - Spent some time with the group, but spent more with the newly founded temple of Baphamet in the outer parts of town. Lois improved the run down temple, babbling to Baphomet, not knowing if he was listening. Spent time outside trying to convince others to join her in her temple and provide offerings to Baphomet. She and Ofie visited a Haberdasheree so that she could improve her sewing, wanting to make cloth trinkets and charms in the shape of Baphomet symbols.

Ofie - Spent morning wandering the wilds near Tidewatch Bastion, discovering a family of rabbits and spending time with them, nurturing them and a patch of cabbage nearby. Letting the rabbits know that we would be moving in nearby and that we may have an arrangement beneficial for us all. Spent time as a giant eagle practicing her flight. Accompanied Lois to the Haberdasheree, learning how to sew, making little forest creatures out of cloth. Heard Firbolg music, and met another Firbolg, who recognized "princess Ofie". Merrywind Greenbranch was followed by three other Firbolg musicians and they shared stories with each other. They said they'd share songs of Ofie and her escapades and greatness.

Alias - Spent time at the docks of Caer Callidier fixing up the ship, preparing the ship for the next adventure and searching for the Black Fang and Xanaphia. She arrived at the Wanton Witch. They found themselves spending much time together, flirting but never moving past playful talking. Learned from sailors that Oman had no truly safe ports, all watched by the hag's servants. The Queen's Bitch was sailing near Baldur's Gate according to some sailors. Reached out to Mags about plundering at Oman.

Obold - trained with Gunther and Thorin. Walked through markets and taverns asking about Iuze. He wanted to see if any roots of Iuze worship still existed nearby and if it did he meant to eradicate it. Met up with Kyra Swan to find this information, working with the Gloomshadow to do so. Found one named Halden who was an Iuze influencer and executed him among others. "Better for business," Kyra said. Zydaria spoke with him, explaining her story — she was a high priestess of Lolth, fell in love with someone forbidden, a surface dweller, one of the earliest followers of Baphomet. Lolth demanded her to end the relationship, when she would not, her lover was killed by Lolth and her soul was condemned to being trapped into a weapon that she did not favor. She now regrets choosing her lover over her goddess, feeling it was foolish.

Gunther - Trained with Thorin and Obold. Spent his time in libraries looking for more information about the Fey and the green court. Entrances to feywild exist in many different forms, such as mushroom rings, hallowed hills, and other ancient places in nature. Sometimes only opening during certain times related to the moon or changes in the seasons. Connections to Firbolgs. Green court hates hags. Wild magic is a punishment from fey, atonement, help from a fey being, and being near or in the fey all can help with control. Hags become more powerful in 3, our 3 is likely a covenant. Hags like towers (Galldur towers), safe havens tied to planar magic. Underdark entrances are more common than people realize, sinkholes, ancient dwarven mines are just a couple of things that can lead to entrances to the underdark. One of the hags has a galdur tower in the underdark near wrathgaunt Mote in the underchasm.

Note: Caer Callidier is now half a day away from Tidewatch Bastion

After 8 days of travel we arrive at Oman, a boggy swampland, where our movement is extremely slow. It smells putrid here. Alias is disgusted while Gunther feels right at home. Alias asks Kormack if he can make him some kind of noseplugs and if he can ride on Lois's chariot with her to avoid the smell and muck. They both agree as Kormack uses a whip Alias had to make a nose plug that emits an odor of mint. Ofie flies above the treeline as a giant eagle, holding Kormack in her claws as she does. Kaneko spots some movement in the bog in front of us as we prepare for a fight. It is a group of lizard people. Kenneck immediately strikes, but Alias attempts to persuade them to drop their weapons after seeing what threat we are after Kaneko kills two of them. The small lizard people seem convinced as they begin to lower their weapons before a larger lizard person with a whip shows up and threatens them to keep fighting. We battle in the bog, Ofie and Alias struggle with the swampy conditions. Lois's chariot gets destroyed leaving her and Alias back into the muck. We succeed in defeating the lizard folk before capturing one of the smaller lizard people so that we can question.

Exclude from log: Attempt to convince the lizard folk that we have cleared Yourgh for them to recapture. We know Vutha and if not provoked can be used as friends to free them from this bog and the evil hag who rules them. Convince them through persuasion/deception (we can be useful allies) or intimidation (you don't want to face us).

Joe's Notes

Derek Coil Rope - coastal man, deckhand originally, calm temperament. Manages small bay below Tidewatch Bastion. Oversees landing dock. Speaks slowly and thoughtfully, respects the crew and secretly proud to work for us. Calm and dependable, endless collection of sea stories.

Groundskeeper - Tobbin Bramblefoot, cheerful halfling. Tended orchards and gardens. Uncanny understanding of soil and weather patterns. Tends the fields behind the bastion. Optimistic, loves plants and animals evenly.

Housemaid - Elira Fenbrooke, young human woman, dark hair, quiet thoughtful, worked in inns, keeps the interiors clean and orderly. Despite her quiet nature, extremely observant, good if we have guests. Quiet, respectful, loyal once trust is earned.

Cook - Barrin Copperpot - halfling, round belly, strong meal can solve nearly anything he thinks. Makes hearty meals, experiments with new ingredients from the countryside and markets. Loud, cheerful, proud of serving good food.

Aldrich Valmont - tall, impeccably dressed male with straight hair and perfect posture. Quiet authority, served noble houses. Handles stewardship while we are away. Manages logs of schedules, inventory, and finances. Calm, dignified, organized, dry sense of humor, deeply loyal.

Garrick Stonehand, master at arms, human, 52, former mercenary captain. Veteran, gray hair, watchful eye. Commanded watchmen previously before a spear wound nearly took his life. Handles training, defense and security. Runs daily drills in the yard. Respects capable warriors, if we spar with him we will realize he's still extremely dangerous. Logs watch shifts and training books.

Tomas Reid - guardsman, 24 human, worked in Caer Callidier, sees us as legendary heroes. His enthusiasm sometimes makes him overreact to minor inconveniences, pestered us with questions about our adventures, salutes dramatically, collects small carved ship tokens from ships in the docks, longsword specialty.

Brenna Thornfield, half elf, female, 31, spent years protecting merchant caravans. Compared to Tomas she's cool headed and practical. Most reliable guard, often covers night shifts, teases Tomas for his excitement. Chews mint leaves while on watch, has throwing knives in her boots. Longsword specialty.

WHAT WE DID

Kormak - spent time repairing the Tidewatch Bastion each morning. In the laboratory in the basement, set up his shop beneath the tower. Broken planar compass, once a marvel of dwarven craft, designed to align with currents between planes. He spent a lot of time fixing it, couldn't get it to work, but then remembered the ethereal crystal we got from caverns, used it in the compass, still failed. He felt he was close. Thorin and Kormak made good friends with brewers and barkeepers. Kormak found a birdkeeper and sent a letter to his wife. Hilda showed up to the tower to move in with Kormak. Hilda's sister agreed to tend the tavern, she is now going to be in the tower helping.

Thorin - Practiced his fighting. Thought the training yard was run down so he purchased equipment and created effective training targets. He also made a sparring circle. He also hauled equipment for the barn and made a smithy in the far corner of it. Spent his evenings drinking, eventually made friends with brewers and learned about brewing. With his new knowledge, he purchased brewing supplies and carved out a small brewing station. The groundskeeper began planting the crops required like barley and such. He also visited the temple of Tempus, spent hours mending his hammer and offering his prayer for worthy battles and strong allies.

Kaneko - Spent some evenings drinking in taverns, drank to listen. Picked up conversations and asked questions about Valentine. Wealthy vineyard owners, well known winery and family. In a busy tavern near the docks he found a Valentine vintage bottle of wine. The barkeep said the shipment was stolen goods that came through a month ago. He also heard sailors mentioning that powerful vintners had dealings with "The Three." One night, he found a shop with an elven man sorting leaves into bundles. The owner said he carried something heavy inside. The shopkeeper was a druid. Kaneko got mad, but the druid knew he hated him and said his anger was poisoning his path. Said there is a druidic circle on Gwenyth, an ancient one, and that he must first confront what's inside him and align himself with the world and nature, and only then could he find what he was looking for.

Lois - Walked the streets, sipped drinks lightly with party, her mind somewhere else, listening, waiting, watching for signs from Baphomet. Place looked neglected, scrubbed the stone floors, fixed bad woodwork, retraced the labyrinthine engravings. Spoke with Baphomet often, assuming he was listening. She spent time outside the door speaking to travelers, talking about strength, independence and walking your own path through the labyrinth. She had started gathering followers who started passing offerings to Baphomet, she started a following. She and Ophie visited a haberdashery. Lois wanted to improve her sewing. She began making Baphomet keepsakes, and she got better at it over time. Ophie helped as well. One time at the altar, she placed a cloth charm at the altar, Baphomet gave her a sign.

Ophie - Sought quieter company. She was in nature, whispering soft words in the ancient language of the wild, asking it what it needed. Discovered a large family of rabbits near the bastion, soon they welcomed her, she tended a patch of lettuce nearby. Explained to the rabbits that the party had moved in but were friends. She also spent time practicing her eagle wildshape, flew around the bastion often. Accompanied Lois to the haberdashery, learning the art of sewing, making little foxes, rabbits, and birds. Once near the market on the docks she heard music, ancient Celtic melody of the Firbolgs. She met another Firbolg woman singing, who recognized "princess Ophie" — Marwyne Greenbranch, with 3 other Firbolgs: Talyn, Barrick, Lyra. All bowed respectfully. They spoke, telling tales of their performances. They promised to spread word that princess Ophie traveled the world with strong heroes.

Alias - Hung out on the docks of Caer Callidier, alongside the Bitch's Scorn, worked with the crew and Gamora to repair the ship. His eyes always scanned the harbour for the Black Fang and its captain Zynaphia. On the third night in the Wanton Wench, she appeared. She wasn't in her pirate leathers, she wore a softer elegant outfit. Over the next several nights they crossed paths a lot, the conversation became playful and teasing, but every time it began to move further she would change subjects. In the taverns he asked about Oman, where one of the hags had a Galder tower. Most people there were lizardfolk. Strange lights from the towers. He asked about Captain Argram. He accompanied Gunther many times to the library, helping him read books about the fey wild. Near the end of the week he took the Bitch's Scorn out to sea and brought it to Tidewatch Bastion. Zynaphia visited. Tension remained unresolved. On the final night, Alias was alone on the ship, he thought of Magnolia Duvall, he pulled out the whisper quill, and wrote to her: "Mags the crew and I have set up shop at Tidewatch Bastion, headed to Oman, I hear they're in need of plundering, you in?"

Obold - He trained on the grounds with Thorin and Gunther. Obold looked through Caer Callidier asking about followers of Iuz. He was trying to weed out worshippers of Iuz. Eventually led to Kira Swan, master of the Gloomshadow, met with her in a cellar beneath a gambling hall. Got the Gloomshadow looking for people spreading Iuz. They met Haldin, an old associate when Obold served the archbishop. Obold beheaded him. This happened to a few others with the help of the Gloomshadow. He also spent several afternoons in the woods near the bastion, talking to Zydaria. He learned her story — long before she was a weapon, she was a drow high priestess of Lolth. She made the mistake of falling in love with someone forbidden, a high born sylvan elf, Illthyre Valorean, one of the earliest followers of Baphomet. Relationship was secret at first. When Lolth discovered, she told Zydaria to end the relationship. Zydaria refused. Lolth killed Illthyr, and had her priests sacrifice Zydaria and imbue her soul into the halberd. A weapon meant for slaughter, which she hated. She would've preferred a sabre or a dueling blade. She regretted choosing him over Lolth.

Gunther - He drank and told stories but wasn't the loudest. In the morning, he trained in the yard with Obold and Thorin. He searched the libraries, spent long hours at tables, sometimes with Alias helping. Asking about the fey, specifically the green court, his connection to it, and whether his wild magic could be controlled. He learned that entrances to the feywild existed in several forms. Green court, keepers of natural balance, hate hags, consider them parasites. The green court might approve of what we're doing. Wild magic — 3 possible paths: atonement, guidance of fey being, time in fey. Hags become more powerful in groups of 3 or more. Hags like towers, ritual centers, magical observatories, interplanar connections. In a passage, one of the hag sisters has a tower in the underdark, somewhere near Wrathgaunt Mote in the region known as the Underchasm. Entire cities once fell into there in the past.

SIDE NOTE - Caer Callidier is now half a day away

500 gold for +2 bolt that's permanent (have to retrieve)
250 gold for +1 bolts that are permanent
Thorin commissioned bolt of paralysis, one time use, gave him the 500 upfront

Note: Kira Swan is a necromancer, and Thorin has a piece of his wife. We may be able to cast true resurrection. Scott said she's not lvl 18 and can't cast true resurrection, and also true resurrection is a cleric or druid spell.

The party sets sail south near Gwenyth as it's short and safe. We asked Hilda to source some funky pipe weed seeds to provide to Tobin to plant.

First evening on the sea: Black clouds, storm kicks in. Alias easily steered the ship through the storm with guidance from Thorin and foresight from Kormak. A ship passed by us after.

Next day evening: Alias gets sidetracked, we start getting sucked by a whirlpool. Thorin uses control water to help alias through the waters.

We ran into another sea turtle. Ophie recognized it as the one from before and it left us alone.

We ran into a fog bank. Almost got lost, but at the last second Alias gets us back in the trade lane.

We ran into another fog bank the next day, and Alias got lost in the fog and we had to spend another day traveling.

We ran into ANOTHER fog bank on day 5 but passed through with the help of the dwarves.

After a merchant ship passes. Day 7 - we passed a storm but no one got knocked over.

The party finally landed in Oman and weighed anchor. Got off on the rowboat and landed in a small cove, covered in fog. The isle appears to be a big swampy bog. Half speed movement for most of it.

Alias suggests we head towards the nastiest smell and Obold identifies a direction. Ophie becomes an eagle and Kaneko scouts ahead. Kaneko sees movement and alerts us. Ophie sees multiple things moving, and sees some sort of rings in the fog. No pattern or rhythm to the circles. As the party approaches the shapes in the mist, we rolled initiative. The party engages a pack of lizardfolk that have almost surrounded us. Keneko takes down 2 of them immediately. Alias says, "stop, you've seen what we can do to you, if you continue we will kill you all, we are friends of Vutha." They begin to stop and put their weapons down, but we hear a whip and a guttural "keep fucking moving" and they are ordered to keep fighting. Gunther threw javelins and began raging. Lois started blasting. The lizards advanced, 3 of them swarming Lois and Alias on a chariot, destroying Lois's chariot and dealing massive damage to her. Thorin and Ophie charge the master lizard guy. Ophie sweeps in as an eagle to the leader and attacks, as she flies away it strikes her critically, turning her back into her Firbolg form. Obold misty steps and cuts a lizard in half. Gunther's wild magic lets him throw his longsword and have it appear back in his hands. The pack leader had Ophie on his back and throws her at Kormak, they both fall into the mud. Ophie gets up, turns back into an eagle. Tries to pick him up and fails. Obold chops another raptor and attacks its rider with Ramses. Kormak came out of the bog water, casts fairy fire, foresaw the leader failing the save. Kaneko continues sniping from afar. Alias stabs a lizard and kills it, then causes another to become frightened. Lois continues eldritch blasting. Gunther swings on the leader. Uses bolstering magic on Kormak. The lizard attacks Ramses and as a reaction Obold splits his head in half. The leader attacks Kormak twice and he shields both attacks, then turns towards Gunther and misses both strikes. Thorin hits a lizard with guiding bolt, felling it, then takes his hammer to the next one. Ophie tries to pick him up again, he gets a natural 20, easily escaping. Obold shoots his crossbow at a raptor on Thorin and Alias, kills it. Kormak misses a firebolt. Kaneko attacks the leader, trying to get him to drop his weapon with a maneuver, but fails. Alias tells us to leave the remaining underling alive, and shoots the leader lizard. Lois continues eldritch blasting the leader. Gunther brings up his greatsword of bleeding and splits the leader lizard in half down to his collar bone.

Audio Transcriptions

Raw session audio transcribed via Whisper. Names corrected to match vault conventions. Speaker labels not included.

Powell Ave (Part 1) — Staff Introductions

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She hired Derek Coilrope. Derek is a broad-shouldered coastal man in his late 30s with weathered skin and rope-burned hands. He spent most of his life as a deckhand and small boat pilot ferrying cargo between the Moonshade Isles and the mainland. Years of working rough seas have given him a calm, steady temperament. Nothing seems to rattle him. Calissa hired Derek to manage the small bay below Tidewatch Bastion where the Vicious Scorn will often anchor. He oversees the small landing dock, handles incoming boats and ferry supplies, and people between the Bastion and the harbor at Caer Callidier when needed. Derek speaks slowly and thoughtfully, rarely wasting words. He has a quiet respect for Alias and the crew of the ship, and is secretly proud to be working for a group that seems capable of making a name for themselves. His personality is calm and dependable, speaks little, notices everything, and has an endless collection of sea stories.

Your groundskeeper and field tender she hired is Tobin Bramblefoot. Tobin Bramblefoot is a cheerful halfling with a sun-browned face and dirt permanently under his fingernails. He grew up tending orchards and gardens throughout the Moonshade Isles and has an uncanny understanding of soil and weathering patterns. He is responsible for maintaining the fields behind the Bastion. Tobin talks constantly to the plants he cares for, often giving them encouragement as he works. He is cheerful and endlessly optimistic, loves animals and plants equally, and proud of every successful harvest.

The housemaid she hired is Elyra Fenbrook. Elyra Fenbrook is a young human woman with dark hair and a quiet, thoughtful temper. She grew up in Caer Callidier and worked in several inns before Kalista recommended her for service at the Bastion. She keeps the interior of Tidewatch Bastion clean and orderly. As she quietly moves through the tower, sweeping floors, washing linens, polishing armor racks, and ensuring the bedrooms remain comfortable. You guys kind of all gain this insight as you guys are in and out of this place over the next week. Despite her quiet nature, she is extremely observant and often overhears interesting conversations. Her personality is quiet and respectful and extremely observant. Loyal once your trust is earned.

Your cook is Baron Copperpot. Baron is a round-bellied halfling with bright eyes and a booming laugh. He takes enormous pride in his cooking and believes that a strong meal can solve nearly any problem. The Bastion's kitchen has quickly become his domain. Baron produces hearty meals for the household and crew, often experimenting with new ingredients brought back from the city markets and the surrounding places. He is loud and cheerful and talkative, extremely proud of his cooking, and loves feeding hungry adventurers.

Your butler is Aldric Valmont. Aldric Valmont is a tall, impeccably dressed human man in his early fifties with silver streak hair and perfect posture. He carries himself with the quiet authority of someone used to managing noble households. Kalista hired Aldric to serve as the Bastion's steward, responsible for organizing supplies, coordinating staff, and ensuring the tower operates efficiently when the Scorned Eight are away. Aldric addresses everyone with perfect courtesy and maintains meticulous records of inventory, finances, and schedules. Despite his formal behavior, he clearly enjoys the unpredictability of working for adventurers. He's calm, dignified, and highly organized. He has a very dry sense of humor, and he's deeply loyal to the Bastion's success.

Garrick Stonehand, your master at arms. He's a human, 52, former mercenary captain. He's gruff, disciplined, and quietly loyal. He's a broad-shouldered veteran whose hair has gone mostly gray, though his eyes remain sharp and watchful. He once commanded a company of mercenaries along the Northern Trade Roads before retiring after a spear wound nearly ended his life. Though he claims to have hung up the sword, he still trains daily and keeps his armor polished. Kalista recruited him after hearing of his reputation for discipline and fairness. Garrick now will oversee the training, defense, and security of Tidewatch Bastion. He will run daily drills in the yard and has always taken it upon himself to organize weapon racks, armor stands, and a rotating watch schedule. Despite his stern demeanor, Garrick deeply respects capable warriors — if any of the Scorned Eight spar with him, they'll discover that the old soldier is still extremely dangerous. He keeps a detailed logbook of watches, ships, and training drills. He dislikes sloppy swordwork and laziness, and he secretly enjoys telling old battlefield stories after a few drinks.

One of your guardsmen: Tomas Reed (Tomas). He's a human, 24, former dock watchman. Thomas grew up in the docks of Caer Callidier working odd jobs unloading cargo, eventually joining the Harbor Watch, where he learned the basics of spear and shield defense. He's thrilled to work for the Scorned Eight, whom he sees as legendary heroes already. Thomas takes his job very seriously, though his enthusiasm sometimes causes him to overreact to minor disturbances. He spends much of his free time asking Garrick for additional training and often pesters party members with questions about their adventures. He keeps his armor overly polished, salutes dramatically, and collects small commemorative ship tokens from the docks.

The last one is Brenna Thornfield, a half-elf female, 31. Brenna spent years protecting merchant caravans traveling between coastal cities. She's fought bandits, smugglers, and the occasional monster along lonely roads. Compared to Thomas, she's cool-headed and practical. Brenna quickly became Garrick's most reliable guard. She often patrols the grounds at night and keeps a watchful eye on visitors entering the Bastion. She has a quiet wit and occasionally teases Thomas when his excitement gets the better of him. She's always chewing mint leaves while on duty, notices small details others miss, and keeps throwing knives hidden in her boots. Both Thomas and Brenna have longsword specialties.

[Recording ends — continued in Powell Ave 2 transcript]

Powell Ave (Part 2) — Downtime & Oman

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Downtime Week in Caer Callidier

The Scorned Eight spend a week in Caer Callidier. The following covers each character's activities.

Kormak (the Artificer)

During the times the others scattered across the city and surrounding lands to pursue their own interests, Kormak the Artificer found comfort in the steady rhythm of work. The newly claimed tower Tidewatch Bastion still bore the scars of age and neglect — cracked hinges hung crooked from doors that groaned like old sailors, chairs wobbled as if unsure of their legs, and the barn's gates sagged in protest each time the wind pushed against them. Each morning the ringing of hammer and metal echoed from the tower grounds. Hinges were reset, iron straps reforged, door frames reinforced with careful wedges of oak, broken chairs became sturdy once more beneath his tools and his mending spell. Even the barn doors, once crooked and stubborn, now swung open with satisfying precision.

Every evening when the sun dipped low over the harbor of Caer Callidier and the lanterns of the city began to glow, Kormak descended to the basement laboratory. There, surrounded by tools, brass fittings, and half-finished mechanisms, he returned again and again to the same project — a broken planar compass. The device had once been a marvel of dwarven craft: rings of etched brass surrounding a delicate inner needle designed to align with a subtle current between planes. Now its mechanisms refused to respond, the needle drifting lazily with no sense of direction. For hours he tinkered — recalibrating gear ratios, re-etching runic markings, replacing tiny springs with ones he crafted by hand. Nothing worked.

Midway through the week, while rummaging through his supplies, a memory struck him — the ethereal crystal recovered from the Fae's spiders. A fragment, faintly luminous like moonlight trapped in stone. Carefully he set it in a small vice and shaved away slivers of the strange crystal. Soon a small pile of shimmering dust lay upon his workbench. With careful precision he worked the powder into the compass housing, hoping the crystal's connection to the ethereal might guide the needle. He assembled the device, activated the mechanism — the needle twitched, then stopped. Every attempt ended the same way. Failure. The compass remained stubbornly silent. Kormak grumbled under his breath in Dwarvish as he disassembled it once more. Still, he could feel he was close.

Several nights the Scorned Eight wandered into the bustling taverns of Caer Callidier where the scent of roasting fish and spilled ale filled the air. There they found themselves seated beside local brewers — stout islanders proud of their craft. Tankards were raised. Debates followed with Kormak, Thorin, and the brewers about grain varieties, fermentation times, the virtues of mountain spring water versus coastal wells.

Early in the week, during a walk through the bustling markets, Kormak found a merchant with a small coop of carrier pigeons — each bird trained to fly across the Moonshade Isles. For a few coins and careful instruction, Kormak penned a letter for his wife Hilda. The bird vanished into the gray sky with the letter tied carefully to its leg.

On the final morning, as the fog rolled slowly off the sea, there came a knock at the Bastion's door. Hilda had come. The halfling woman brushed the travel dust from her cloak, looked up at the tower with a critical eye. "Well," she said, hands on her hips, "you've certainly chosen yourself a project." She stepped inside, already inspecting the floors, the walls, and the newly repaired hinges. "It'll do," she decided after a moment.

She explained that her sister had agreed to run the bed and breakfast in Ogden while she traveled. From a pouch in her belt, she produced a small purse and tossed it into Kormak's hands — 350 gold. "Your share," she said. Then her eyes drifted toward the city visible from the tower windows. "You know, Caer Callidier could use a good cottage or two. We could buy one, fix it up, and turn a profit." She patted the wall, her grin widened. "Good thing you married someone practical."

Thorin

Each morning began before sunrise. Steel rang across the Bastion grounds as Thorin, Gunther, and Obold practiced with relentless discipline. Thorin's warhammer carved through the morning air in powerful arcs, pounding invisible enemies. Boots drove into the packed dirt as he drilled again and again — strikes, pivots, shield bashes, and brutal follow-throughs.

Thorin had no patience for sloppy training grounds. Within days, he began shaping the area into something worthy of warriors. From the markets and workshops of Caer Callidier, he purchased thick timber posts, old wagon wheels, rope bundles, and battered shields discarded by the city militia. Soon the grounds near the barn held:

The barn itself did not escape Thorin's attention. While wandering the smithy districts of Caer Callidier, he found old tools, cracked bellows, half-worn anvils, and piles of scrap iron. Over several days, Thorin hauled the pieces back to Tidewatch Bastion. By the end of the week, a small smithy had taken shape in the far corner of the barn — a modest forge, a sturdy anvil set into a thick oak stump, a rack for tools and tongs, and half-repaired bellows.

Armed with knowledge gained from nightly debates with local brewers, Thorin and Kormak purchased their own brewing supplies — barley seeds, wheat grain, fermentation barrels, copper brewing kettles. They carved out a small brewing space near the barn. Behind the barn, small rows of freshly turned earth now stretched across the property where wheat and barley seeds had been carefully set into the soil, under the care of Tobin.

Several mornings Thorin walked through the city toward the Temple of Tempus. Inside, banners of war hung proudly from the stone walls — helmets, shields, and broken weapons from battles long past displayed like sacred relics. Here, Thorin spent hours sharpening his hammer and offering prayer to the Lord of Battles. Not prayers for victory — Tempus favored courage, not guarantees. Instead, he prayed for worthy battles, strong allies, and the strength to meet whatever war awaited the Scorned Eight next.

Kaneko

Most mornings, Kaneko walked the narrow streets and markets of Caer Callidier alone. The city was alive with merchants from every corner of the Moonshade Isles. Kaneko moved quietly through it all, asking questions — never too many, never too directly. The name he whispered most often was Valentine.

At first, the information was familiar — fragments he already knew. The Valentine family, wealthy vintners whose vineyards stretched across the fertile lands just south of Neverwinter. Their winery was well known among merchants and traders. Their barrels traveled the trade routes of the Sword Coast, prized for their rich flavor and deep red color.

One afternoon, inside a busy tavern near the docks, Kaneko noticed a familiar crest stamped into the wax seal of a wine bottle sitting behind the bar — a Valentine vintage. He ordered a glass. The moment the wine touched his tongue, he knew it was genuine. The tavern owner, when asked about the bottles, shrugged: "Cargo shipment — came through the docks a month ago. Truth is, the whole shipment was stolen goods. No one knows where it originally came from. But I'll tell you this — it's the best wine on this island."

Late one evening, Kaneko overheard sailors speaking in low voices. They mentioned the Valentine family again, but this time the tone was different. Rumors — whispers that the powerful vintners had dealings with the Three: the trio of ancient hag sisters who controlled much of the slave trade. The men spoke the words carefully, as though afraid the hags themselves might hear.

One night, wandering the quieter streets, Kaneko drifted toward a small shop tucked between two buildings — bundles of dried herbs, roots, and strange natural charms in the window. Inside stood an elven man, quiet and calm, sorting leaves into small cloth bundles. The shopkeeper was a druid.

"You carry something heavy," the druid said. "Not on your shoulders. Here." He tapped his own chest. "You hate us. That hatred is poison in your path. You cannot hunt the truth if your spirit is blinded by rage."

He gestured toward the distant hills. "There is a druidic circle on Gwynedd — an ancient one. If you wish to confront what truly lies ahead, you must first confront what lies within you. Commune with nature again. Clear your mind. Align yourself with the world rather than against it. Only then can you truly pursue the people you seek."

Lois

While the rest of the Scorned Eight filled their days with hammering steel, brewing ale, and searching for rumors, Lois followed a quieter path. The halfling warlock walked the city streets thoughtfully, her eyes always drifting toward shadowed corners and crossroads where fate seemed to twist in strange ways.

Much of her week was spent at the small temple of Baphomet on the edge of the city — a humble, quiet stone room, a carved wooden altar, a crude symbol of twisting horns, and maze-like lines etched into the stone floor. Lois scrubbed the stone floors until they gleamed faintly in the candlelight. She repaired cracked woodwork, replaced burnt candles, and redrew the labyrinthine symbol upon the altar with careful precision. Sometimes while she worked, she spoke quietly — not prayers exactly, more like conversations, as if someone might be listening just beyond the veil of the world. The air in the temple sometimes grew strangely still while she worked.

During the afternoons, Lois could often be seen standing outside the temple doors, speaking to curious passers-by. Her voice carried calm confidence as she spoke about strength, independence, and the freedom found in walking one's own path through life's labyrinth. By the end of the week, several small offerings had begun appearing on the altar — coins, bones, trinkets — left behind by those who found something strangely compelling in Lois's words.

One afternoon, Lois and Opie wandered into a haberdashery in the merchant district. The shopkeeper patiently showed Lois better sewing techniques — how to tighten stitches for durability, how to shape cloth forms more precisely, how to fill small figures so they held their shape. Opie helped as well, her enormous hands surprisingly gentle as she guided the thread through the cloth. By the end of the afternoon, Lois had produced a finer creation — a small stuffed charm shaped like curling horns and winding paths. A tiny labyrinth of cloth.

Late in the week, after another evening tending the temple, Lois stood alone at the altar. She placed one of the new cloth charms on the altar and rested her hand upon it. For a long moment she stood in silence — then the candle flames bent suddenly, as if stirred by a breath that had not come from the room. The shadows on the wall twisted briefly into the shape of curling horns, and then they were gone.

Opie

Opie spent many mornings wandering the wildlands surrounding the tower. The hills and small woodlands near the coast were alive with wind and birdsong. Not far from the Bastion, she discovered a large family of rabbits that had made their home beneath a tangled thicket. She sat among them quietly. With careful magic and patient hands, Opie nurtured a small patch of wild lettuce nearby. She explained, gently, that new folk now lived in the nearby tower — but these new owners were kind to nature. The rabbits did not need to fear them. One very bold rabbit hopped forward and thumped once in approval.

Opie spent part of the week practicing her new wild shape — the form of a giant eagle. The rush of wind beneath massive wings was exhilarating. More than once during the week, the rest of the Scorned Eight spotted the enormous eagle sweeping across the sky above Tidewatch Bastion — circling once, diving low over the trees, and disappearing into the forest canopy. Moments later, Opie would quietly return to the tower grounds from another direction, smiling in quiet delight.

One afternoon, while wandering the open-air market near the docks, Opie paused — because through the noise of the harbor and the shouting of merchants, she heard something unexpected. Music. An ancient Celtic melody of the Firbolg people, played upon a small wooden flute accompanied by a deep drum rhythm. At the center of a small gathering of onlookers stood another Firbolg woman, singing with a clear, powerful voice.

The moment the singer's eyes landed on Opie, the song altered. Recognition flashed across her face. "Princess Opie," she said in disbelief, bowing with a hand over her heart. Her name was Merwin Greenbranch. Behind her stood three other Firbolgs who formed the small traveling band: Talon (a quiet drummer), Perrick (who carried a small harp), and Lyra (a storyteller). All three bowed respectfully.

The conversation lasted only a short while but was full of laughter. The four traveling Firbolgs were nearly giddy with joy, having just witnessed a legend walking among them. They promised to spread word that Princess Opie walked the world with great heroes.

Alias

For Alias, the week began at the docks. Under the steady eye of Gamora (his first mate), the crew of the Bitch's Scorn worked tirelessly — rigging tightened, sails patched, deck boards replaced and scrubbed clean. Alias worked among them like a captain who'd grown into the role comfortably, always scanning the harbor. He was looking for a ship: the Black Fane, and its captain, Xanaphia.

For the first two nights, there was no sign of her. The third night changed that — at the Wanton Winch tavern. Xanaphia was not dressed in her usual pirate leathers. Instead she wore something far more elegant, almost disarming. She noticed Alias immediately and met his gaze with something warmer, something inviting. Over the next several nights, the two of them crossed paths frequently — at the docks, in taverns, walking the harbor streets by lantern light. Their conversations became a playful dance of teasing remarks and clever smiles. Yet whenever the moment threatened to move beyond that tension, Xanaphia always redirected the conversation, keeping the games alive.

In the taverns, Alias began asking questions about Oman — an isolated and dangerous island somewhere among the Moonshade Isles, where it was rumored that one of the hag sisters had a Galder Tower. The island was patrolled by lizardfolk, fierce swamp dwellers who guarded the shores and coves. Strange lights were sometimes seen from the tower at night. One sailor leaned closer and muttered: "You might think you can get there — but you won't do it without someone noticing."

Alias also spent time asking about Captain Argran, the former captain of the Queensbridge. A merchant sailor eventually offered something useful — he claimed a ship matching that description had been sighted sailing the northern coast of Faerûn near Neverwinter.

Near the end of the week, Alias took the Bitch's Scorn out to sea, sailing around the coast to the small sheltered bay beneath Tidewatch Bastion. Xanaphia visited during those quiet nights — their flirtation continuing as easily as ever, sharp and playful, but never crossing a line. Nothing ever resolved.

On the final night in the quiet bay, Alias stood alone at the stern. He pulled out his whisper quill and wrote:

Mags — the crew and I have set up shop in Caer Callidier at Tidewatch Bastion. Heading to Oman. I've heard they're in need of plundering. You in?

The message faded from the page as the magic carried it away across the waves.

Obold

For Obold, the week in Caer Callidier was one of discipline and shadows. Like Gunther and Thorin, he rose each morning to train on the newly built grounds of Tidewatch Bastion. But Obold's afternoons followed a darker trail — he spent his days walking quietly through markets, taverns, and shadowed corners, asking subtle questions. Not about pirates. Not about trade. About a name few spoke comfortably anymore: Iuz.

Months ago, Obold had served the Archbishop of Iuz in this city. He knew the shape of the cult — the whispers, the quiet signs its followers used to identify one another. Eventually, he arranged a meeting with Kira Swan, guildmaster of the Gloomshadow, Caer Callidier's most powerful thieves' guild. The meeting took place in a dim cellar beneath a gambling hall near the docks. "That sort of thing," Kira said calmly, referring to Iuz's influence, "is very bad for business."

Over the next several days, the Gloomshadow began watching certain individuals. Obold joined them on more than one quiet night. Eventually they found their targets. The first was Halden — an old associate from the days when Obold served the Archbishop. The alley was quiet. Halden realized who stood before him only seconds before Zydaria struck his head from his shoulder. Obold said nothing. Some things could not be allowed to rise again. The body was gone before sunrise. A couple of others disappeared during the week as well. With those killings, the threat of Iuz's influence in the city grew quieter.

Yet Obold's week was not only filled with blood. Several afternoons he walked alone in the quiet woods near the Bastion. There, beneath tall trees and whispering leaves, he sat with Zydaria — the sentient halberd — across his knees.

Slowly, over several quiet days, Obold began to learn her story. Long before she became a weapon, Zydaria had been a drow high priestess of Lolth — powerful, respected, feared. She made a dangerous mistake: she fell in love with a high-born Sylvan Elf named Elthyr Velaryon, one of the earliest followers of Baphomet in the world above. When Lolth discovered the truth, she gave Zydaria a command — end the relationship. Zydaria refused. Lolth's response was swift: assassins were sent to the surface, and Elthyr Velaryon was killed. To punish Zydaria for her betrayal, Lolth ordered a dark ritual that bound Zydaria's soul into a weapon — the halberd.

"I was a priestess of power," Zydaria told Obold one evening, "and she trapped me inside such a weapon. I would have preferred a saber. Something elegant." After a moment she added quietly: "My affection for Elthyr would have faded. It was foolishness and passion. I regret choosing him over my goddess."

Gunther

Gunther's week unfolded between two worlds. At night, he was rarely far from the rest of the Scorned Eight — taverns, laughter, stories. Each morning, he turned to more serious pursuits. The training yard Thorin had built became a place Gunther visited every day. Axes struck wooden posts with thunderous force. Shields slammed into practice dummies.

Searching the city library was Gunther's greatest focus that week. He spent long hours at heavy wooden tables surrounded by dusty tomes, sometimes with Alias helping interpret difficult passages. Gunther searched for answers about the Fae, more specifically the Green Court — his connection to it, and whether the strange wild magic he carried could ever be controlled.

What Gunther discovered about the Fae Wild:

About the Green Court:

About controlling wild magic tied to the Fae:

About hags:

The discovery that made Gunther stop reading:
One of the hag sisters has established a Galder Tower within the Underdark — specifically, somewhere near Wrathgaunt Mote (Wrathgaunt Mote), deep within the terrible region known as the Underchasm. The Underchasm is described as a colossal canyon where entire cities once fell during ancient magical disasters — broken stone islands suspended above endless darkness. A perfect hiding place for a hag.

Summary of what Gunther now knows:

[End of transcript — session concludes]